Articles
79% of Americans agree they would benefit from having basic financial education and information.
Source: The 2018 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey, The National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.
Simply click on one of the general financial topics below and you'll find a selection of easy-to-understand information sheets about related financial concepts and strategies. This information is updated regularly to reflect the latest facts, figures, legislation, and economic trends.
Estates & Trusts
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Estate Planning
Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
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Avoiding Probate
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
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Charitable Giving
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
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Gifting Strategies
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
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Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.
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Charitable Remainder Trusts
A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.
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Wealth Replacement Trusts
A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.
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History of the Federal Estate Tax
Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.
Retirement
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SEP IRAs
A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.
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SIMPLE Plans
The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.
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Stretch IRAs
A “stretch” or “multigenerational” IRA may be a useful approach to extend tax-deferred savings that can benefit your heirs for generations.
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IRA Rollover
If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.
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Roth 401(k)
A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.
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Profit-Sharing Plans
Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.
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Managing Retirement Plans
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
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Save Now or Save Later
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
Tax Planning
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Tax-Advantaged Alternatives
While stable, CDs can create quite an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
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Tax Strategies for Retirement Plans
Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.
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Mutual Fund Profits
Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.
Investing
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Diversification
An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
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Mutual Funds vs. Stocks
The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
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Mutual Funds
A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.
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Closed-End Funds
With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.
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Mutual Fund Loads
It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.
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Annuities
An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.
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Asset Classes
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
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College Savings Plans
There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
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Stock and Bond Investing Alternatives
There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.
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Dollar-Cost Averaging
Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
Cash Management
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Cash Management Basics
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
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Doubling Your Money
Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.
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Biweekly Mortgages
Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.
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Smart Financing Ideas
Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.
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Savings Alternatives
There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.
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Effects of Inflation
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
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Home Equity Loans
Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.
Risk Management
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Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
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Whole Life Insurance
Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.
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Universal Life Insurance
Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.
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Variable Life Insurance
Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.
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Auto Insurance
Even if your state doesn’t require certain types of auto insurance, it may be wise to purchase multiple types to ensure you are covered for a variety of situations.
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Insuring Your Future
To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.
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Additional Liability Coverage
Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits.
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HMOs and PPOs
Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?
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Evaluating Insurance Companies
Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.